Drawer slide



@et M, 1952 G. B. KURTzoN 2,614,022

DRAWER SLIDE Filed April 10, 1948 2 SHEETS- SHEET l "f '3 "7 ELA v VENToR.

Qg l twjygr Eura M Oct. 14, 1952 G. B. KuRTzoN DRAWER SLIDE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed April 10, 1948 lill S mw NN om mm.. @n

, m... @nu

wu ,W OTT. 1; wf; ow @w W @w uw.

W my# ...Umb @Kil o o 2. n QCNS Q Q N d.. @.H .uw mi QH Patented ct. 14,1952

DRAWER SLIDE George B. Kurtzon, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Garden City Plating & Manufacturing Co., a corporation of Illinois Application April 10, 1948, Serial No.120,30l

claims. (C1. 31e-339) This invention relates to a drawer slide, and particularly to means for limiting the movement of the drawer and for cushioning the slide against slamming when the drawer is moved to either fully open or to closed position.

The present invention comprises a ball bearing drawer slide in which a stationary channel, secured to the housing in which the drawer slides, is provided with a single rubber bumper engageable with a stop member at each end of the movement of the extension channel, to limit the movement of the drawer and to cushion the impact of stopping when the drawer is moved to either` extremity of open or closed position.

A front upper channel secured to the drawer and rolling on top of the extension channel permits additional movement of the drawer beyond the movement permitted by the extension channel and prevents the drawer from slipping sideways off the extension channel. The roller is protected from strain during opening movement of the drawer by a stop member secured to the front upper channel forwardly of the roller.

The structure by which the above advantages are attained will be described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of a drawer with a slide embodying the invention secured thereto, parts being broken away to facilitate the illustration;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view showing the drawer slide secured to a drawer and to the structure in which the drawer is housed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the rear end of the extension channel in its most forwardly position, showing the end of the movable ball retainer engaging a stop member, the stationary channel member being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the front upper channel member;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the rear upper channel member;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View through the front portion of the drawer and slide, showing the extension channel and the front upper channel member in the positions occupied by them as the drawer is either in its closed position or being moved to closed position;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the drawer and slide with the slide in fully extended position;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional View taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. l0 is a cross sectional view taken along the line ICI- I0 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. l1 is a side elevation of the drawer and slide with the drawer fully closed.

In the drawings, the` reference numeral 2 indicates a drawer having a pair of side walls 3. Each side wall has a ledge 4 extending longitudinally adjacent its top edge along the entire length of the side wall. The ledge may be integral with the side wall or may be secured thereto in any suitable manner. Ledges 4 provide clearance for a drawer slide on each side of drawer 2 between side walls 3 and the side walls 5 of the housing in which drawer 2 slides. Side walls 5, of which only one isv shown, may constitute the sidesof a cabinet, table,V desk or any other article of furniture provided with one or more drawers.

The drawer slide includes a stationary channel 6 secured to side wall 5 by aj plurality of screws 1. The length of channel 6 is approximately equal to the depth of drawer 2. vSides 8 and 9 of channel 6 are curved to make theirouter longitudinal surfaces concave and'thereby provide a ball track or race for balls I8. A rubber bumper IIJ is secured in the front end of channel 6 by a rivet II. One edge of bumper I0 projects slightly beyond the front end of channel B.

A movable ball retainerr I2 is slidably mounted on channel 6. 'I he two outer side walls, I3 and I4 of the retainer straddle the side walls 8 and 9 of channel 6. The central portion ofl the Zbottom wall I5 of the retaineris raised to form a reentrant recess I6 reaching almost to the base of channel 6. Recess I6 fits in between side walls 8 and 9. Retainer sidewalls I3 and I4 are apertured, as indicated at Il, for the reception of balls I8. As is apparent, retainer I2 moves with the balls along the track.

An extension channel I9 has a pair. of side walls 20 and 2| straddling side wallst and 9 and ball retainer I2. Channel I9 is approximately the same length as channel 6 and. the portion of its side walls facing side walls 8 and 9 are concave so that one set of balls I8 in retainer I2 are seated between opposing concave walls 8 and 20 and the other set of ball bearings I8 are seated betweenopposing concave walls 9 and 2|. Apertures I1 in side walls vI3 and I4 of retainer I2 keep balls I8 properly spaced longitudinally in the retainer.

A post 22 extends across the front end' of channel I9. The lower end of post 22 is secured by a nut 23 threaded on the post until it is tight against the outer surface of wall 2l, 'The upper end of post 22 projects above wall 28 and is encased in rubber t form a bumper 24. A metal lug 25 secured to the bottom wall 26 of channel I9 intermediate its center and its rear end forms a stop member against which bumper I0 abuts when drawer 2 is moved to fully open position. The end of bumper I0 projecting forwardly of the end of channel 6 abuts post 22 when drawer 2 is moved to closed position.

Stop member 25 is spaced centrally between side walls 20 and 2| and is narrow enough to permit recess I6 to pass thereover as drawer 2 is moved to fully open position, so that the stop member does not interfere with the movement of ball retainer I2. A projection 21 is struck upwardly from bottom wall 26 adjacent the rear end of channel I9 to engage bottom wall I of ball retainer I 2 to prevent the ball retainer from moving out of the rear end of the drawer slide between the channels 6 and I9.

A front upper channel 28 is secured to the underside of ledge 4,by means of screws 29 passing through top wall 30 of the channel and into ledge 4. Ledge 4 is recessed, as indicated at 3I, to provide clearance for a roller 32. A stud 33 mounted in side walls 34 and 35 of channel 28 rotatably supports roller 32 between the side walls. An aperture 36 in top wall 30 of the channel, registering with recess 3I, provides clearance for roller 32. The underside of roller 32 engages the convex surface of side wall 20 or channel I9. The portion of the periphery of roller 32 engaging the surface of side wall 20 is grooved, as indicated at 31, to prevent roller 32 from slipping off side wall 2U.

Side walls 34 and 35 of channel 28 straddle rubber bumper 24 which projects from side wall of channel I9 forwardly of roller 32. The front wall 38 of channel 28 is bent downwardly so that it will engage bumper 24 when drawer 2 is moved to closed position. A metal lug 39, secured to the underside of top wall just forwardly of roller 32, forms a stop member adapted to engage bumper 24 when drawer 2 is moved to open position. Stop member 39 protects roller 32 from engaging bumper 24 and prevents any strain on roller 32 as drawer 2 is moved to open position.

Channel 28, by straddling bumper 24, prevents drawer 2 from slipping sideways relative to channel I9. Although channel 28 is shown as an integral unit it could be divided, with roller 32 mounted separately from the rest of channel 28. The front channel would then comprise only side walls 34 and 35, front wall 38, and stop member 39. Front wall 38 engages bumper 24 to prevent the front wall of drawer 2 from hitting against the iront end of channel I9 when the drawer is moved to closed position.

A rear upper channel 48 (Figs. 5 and 7) has its top wall 4| secured to the underside of ledge 4 in the same manner as the top wall of channel 28. Roller 42, which is a duplicate of roller 32, is mounted between side walls 43 and 44 by means of the stud 45. Top wall 4I has an aperture 46 registering with a recess 4'I in ledge 4 to provide clearance for roller 42. Roller 42 engages the surface of side wall 20 of channel I9 and provides rolling support for the rear end of drawer 2.

The operation of drawer 2 is very simple. When the drawer is moved from closed to fully open position drawer 2 moves forwardly on rollers 32 and 42 riding on track 20, until stop member 39 engages bumper 24. Thereafter, pulling force exerted against the front of drawer 2 moves channel I 9 forwardly on balls I 8 until stop member 25 engages the rear end of bumper I0 in which position the drawer is fully extended. During the movement of channel I9 relative to channel `8 in either direction, ball retainer I2 and balls I8 also move on channel G about half the distance that channel I9 moves. In closing the drawer, rollers 32 and 42 roll on channel I9 until front end 38 of channel 28 engages bumper 24. Then channel I9 moves rearwardly on balls I8 until post 22 engages the front end of bumper I0, in which position the drawer is closed.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in considerable detail, the description is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many of the details may be modied or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, channel 6 may be replaced by a pair of separate strips each having a surface forming a runway for balls I 8. Rollers 32 and I2 can also be replaced by balls and a ball retainer similar to that described, if desired. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to lche exact structure described, except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim: V

l. In a drawer slide, a stationary channel, an extension channel movable relative to said -stationary channel, a third channel movable relative to both said stationary channel and said extension channel, a stop member secured in said extension channel rearwardly of its center, a second stop member secured to said extension channel adjacent its front edge, a bumper on said stationary channel engageable with both of said stop members to limit the movement of said extension channel in either direction, and a projection on said extension channel, said third channel straddling said projection to prevent displacement of said third channel sideways from said extension channel.

2. In a drawer slide, a stationary channel, an extension channel movable relative to said stationary channel, a projection on said extension channel, and a third channel having a roller engaging said extension channel to facilitate movement of said third channel relative to said extension channel, said third channel having depending side walls straddling said projection to prevent sidewise displacement of said third channel relative to said extension channel.

3. In combination, a drawer, a housing for said drawer, a stationary channel secured to said housing, an extension channel slidably mounted on said stationary channel, a projection on said extension channel, a third channel secured to said drawer and movable therewith relative to said extension channel, said third channel having depending side walls straddling said projection to prevent sidewise displacement of said drawer.

4. In combination, a drawer, a housing for said drawer, a stationary channel secured to said housing, an extension channel movable relative to said stationary channel, a third channel fixed to said drawer adjacent its front edge, said third mentioned channel having a roller engaging said extension channel/a bumper on said extension channel, and a stop member in said third channel forwardly of said roller engaging said bumper to limit forward movement of said third channel relative to said extension channel, the side walls of said third channel straddling said bumper to prevent sidewise displacement of said third channel relative to said extension channel.

5. In combination, a drawer having a ledge extending longitudinally thereof adjacent its top edge, a housing for said drawer, a stationary channel secured to the side of said housing, an extension channel movable relative to said stationary channel, a pair of stop members secured in said extension channel, a bumper secured to said stationary channel and engageable with said stop members to limit the movement of said extension channel relative to said stationary channel, a bumper on said extension channel, a channel secured to the underside of said ledge and having depending side walls straddling said last mentioned bumper, said last mentioned channel being movable relative to said extension channel, and stop means on said last mentioned channel engaging said last mentioned bumper to limit the movement of said last mentioned channel relative to said extension channel.

GEORGE B. KURTZON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 472,826 Rudrof Apr. 12, 1892 1,045,523 Cossey Nov. 26, 1912 1,103,598 Martin July 14, 1914 1,396,084 Wright Nov. 8, 1921 1,537,067 Card May 12, 1925 1,582,556. Stuck Apr. 27, 1926 1,963,220 Anderson June 19, 1934 2,012,530 Eustis Aug. 27, 1935 2,290,653 Stoddard July 21, 1942 2,312,325 Earle Mar. 2, 1943 2,320,276 Gussack May 25, 1943 

